UbD Websites – Updated 2/8/16
UbD-Related Websites for SCIENCE
Compiled by Jay McTighe
I have compiled the following collection of websites in support of
curriculum and assessment design using the Understanding by Design
(UbD)® framework. Please e-mail me (jaymctighe@verizon.net) fi you
discover outdated links as well as other useful sites that you find so that I
can add to this list.
Key: ** Highly Recommended * Recommended
STAGE 1 – UNDERSTANDINGS and ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
** Science Atlas of Scientific Literacy (AAAS Project 2061)
Presents "big ideas" in science according to conceptual strands (e.g.,
force, motion). Includes a basic set of “big ideas” in mathematics.
The science ideas are organized as K-12 concept maps to illustrate the
developmental progression of understanding of important ideas in science.
The maps also show links to related concepts. Click on VIEW SAMPLE
MAPS – Atlas 1 and 2 to view.
http://www.project2061.org/publications/atlas/default.htm
** Click on the following link and select a topic to view “big” ideas, potential
misconceptions about them and related assessment items and resources.
http://assessment.aaas.org/
** AP Biology Curriculum Framework
Provides the basis of the revised AP Biology course. The framework is
organized around four Big Ideas, Enduring Understandings and Essential
Knowledge objectives. These are summarized in the Appendix, pp 89-91.
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/10b_2727_AP_B
iology_CF_WEB_110128.pdf
An overview of the Course revisions may be found at the following website.
http://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/science/biology
©2013 Jay McTighe
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UbD Websites – Updated 2/8/16
* A collection of overarching (program level) big ideas, understandings and
essential questions developed by the New Jersey DOE. Click this link to
download a pdf file and scroll down to page 13 to view.
http://www.nj.gov/education/aps/njscp/Phase1allAreas.pdf#page=13
* A collection of overarching (program level) big ideas developed by the
Delaware DOE. Click on “Clarification Documents” to view.
http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/staff/ci/content_areas/science.sh
tml
* A K-12 curriculum framework for Science framed under a set of Enduring
Understandings and Essential Questions developed by the state of
Connecticut. Click on 2004 Science Matrix to download a WORD file.
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=320890
* The New York City BOE Common Core Library includes a searchable database
of units, assessment tasks and samples of student work aligned to the Common
Core Standards for pre-K – 12 in science and other subjects.
http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/TasksUnitsStudent
Work/default.htm
* A collection of Understandings for Earth Science developed through the
Earth Science by Design project.
http://www.esbd.org/resources/big_ideas.html
Science Inquiry Units on Ecosystems, Flight and Flying, The Land from
Saskatoon, CN
http://www.saskyouthheritagefair.com/inquirypage.htm
STAGE 2 – PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS and RUBRICS
** A collection of vetted performance assessment tasks in Physical, Life,
Earth and Space sciences for elementary, middle and high school levels.
http://pals.sri.com/
** AAAS Project 2061 – Science Assessment Website provides find free
access to more than 700 assessment items for use with middle and early
high school students. The assessments test student understanding in the
©2013 Jay McTighe
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UbD Websites – Updated 2/8/16
earth, life, physical sciences, and the nature of science, and include
checks for common scientific misconceptions. Select a topic to view “big”
ideas, potential misconceptions about them and related assessment items
and resources.
http://assessment.aaas.org/
** Curriculum-embedded Performance Tasks - interdisciplinary, open-ended
investigations that promote the inquiry developed in the state of
Connecticut. Scroll down the page to “Curriculum-embedded Performance
Tasks,” then click on grade levels to view the tasks.
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=320890
*A collection of released tasks from the CT State Science Assessments.
These are structured investigations for high school levels. Scroll down the
page to “#4 Released Sample Items” to download a WORD file.
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=320890
** Literacy Design Collaborative – A collection of science/technology tasks and
instructional modules linked to the Common Core Literacy Standards.
http://www.literacydesigncollaborative.org/resources/samplemodules/science-technical-subjects/
* Pennsylvania’s Student Aligned System (SAS) offers sample tasks for
connecting the E/LA Standards (informational and explanatory writing;
argumentative/persuasive writing) to Social Studies and Science using the
Literacy Design Collaborative task frames.
http://www.pdesas.org/module/content/search/advanced.aspx#search
* The New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) releases
some assessment items from each of the NECAP assessments are
released to the public, along with support materials and related examples
of student work. A set of inquiry tasks for science can be found at:
http://www.ride.ri.gov/InstructionAssessment/Assessment/NECAPAs
sessment/NECAPReleasedItems.aspx
* A collection of STEM projects. Click on the following website to register
(free) for access to the projects.
http://www.stemtransitions.org/
A collection of STEM assessment tasks developed in the United Kingdom.
Click on “StemNRICH” (on right side of screen) to see tasks in Biology,
Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering.
http://nrich.maths.org/public/
©2013 Jay McTighe
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UbD Websites – Updated 2/8/16
* A solid analytic rubric for scientific investigations available from
Exemplars.com.
http://www.exemplars.com/resources/rubrics/science.html
* A science continuum of basic science processes for use with grades K-2,
available from Exemplars.com.
http://www.exemplars.com/resources/rubrics/continuum.html
* Scientific Inquiry Rubrics – a resource for assessing student performances in
scientific inquiry and providing meaningful feedback to students to promote
learning developed in the state of Connecticut. Scroll down the page to
“Scientific Inquiry Formative Feedback Rubrics,” then click on grade levels
to view the rubrics.
** Rubric Book in Science
An excellent resource containing 100 ready-to-use performance lists, holistic
rubrics, and analytic rubrics for a wide range of science products and
performances K-12.
http://www.corwin.com/books/Book225952
GENERAL SITES containing ASSESSMENT TASKS and RUBRICS
** A searchable database of assessment tasks in various subjects and
grade levels developed in the Connecticut DOE. Click on STUDENTS
ASSESSMENT TASKS, then enter your search criteria.
http://www.ctcurriculum.org/
** A collection of performance tasks developed by the Alberta Assessment
Consortium, CN.
http://www.aac.ab.ca/PerformanceAssessments.html
** Defined STEM has developed 100+ performance tasks/projects and
associated rubrics based on various career areas. The tasks use the
GRASPS format from UbD to establish an authentic scenario. A unique
feature is the inclusion of a motivating video that shows “real world”
applications of knowledge to set up the task.
©2013 Jay McTighe
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UbD Websites – Updated 2/8/16
In addition to the basic tasks, Defined STEM offers a set of electronic
design tools allow teachers to customize the tasks and rubrics. While the
title suggests that the tasks fall into the STEM arena, there are tasks in
English/Language Arts and History/Social Studies as well.
To view, go to: http://www.definedstem.com
Use Access Code # STEMACCESS
You will be prompted to create your own user name and password.
* Examples of authentic projects with rubrics and student samples
developed at High Tech High School in San Diego, CA
http://www.hightechhigh.org/schools/HTH/
http://www.hightechhigh.org/projects/
* A collection of authentic project-based assessments for High School
students in mathematics, science, social studies, and E/LA from the MD
DOE.
http://hsaexam.org/resources/pubs.html
** Examples of quality performance assessments and associated rubrics
developed through the Coalition of Essential Schools. You must register
(free) to access the resources.
http://www.ceschangelab.org/cs/clpub/view/cl_cat/46
* A collection of quality rubrics developed through the New York State
Performance Assessment Consortium.
http://performanceassessment.org/performance/prubrics.html
* A collection of solid rubrics in various subject areas developed by
Quakertown, PA Schools
http://www.qcsd.org/21307386221332/site/default.asp
* Rubrics for 21st century skills (e.g., critical thinking, communication,
collaboration) from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
http://p21.org/storage/documents/p21-stateimp_assessment.pdf
©2013 Jay McTighe
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